Union edge Cosmos in overtime
If the first two games are any indication, victories will not come any easier for the Union's interim manager, Jim Curtin, than they did for his predecessor, John Hackworth.
If the first two games are any indication, victories will not come any easier for the Union's interim manager, Jim Curtin, than they did for his predecessor, John Hackworth.
For the second straight game, the Union needed overtime to stave off an opponent from a lesser league in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. They beat the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League, 2-1, Tuesday night at PPL Park.
"You're always going to get the best punch from the team that plays in the lower division," said Curtin, the former Union assistant coach who was promoted when Hackworth was fired on June 10.
Sebastien Le Toux scored his second goal of the game on a penalty kick in the 114th minute after he was fouled in the box to give the Union their first lead of the night.
The Cosmos were not happy with the penalty call, and much of the rest of the match was spent pushing and shoving. Three red cards were issued in the waning minutes, two to Cosmos players.
The Cosmos were frustrated to see an early lead disintegrate. They scored first in the 56th minute when forward Alessandro Noselli beat Union goalkeeper Andre Blake to a loose ball and kicked it over Blake into the net.
Less than a minute later, Le Toux tapped the ball into the net on a cross from Andrew Wenger to tie the score.
Despite the close result, Curtin was satisfied that his team will advance in the tournament.
"This club needs a trophy," Curtin said. "We're three wins away from a trophy, which is a big thing."
The Union will move on to the quarterfinals of the Open Cup, playing the winner of Wednesday's game between the Rochester Rhinos and the New England Revolution on July 8 at PPL Park.
The team's MLS schedule will resume Saturday night with a 7:30 p.m. game at New England.
@MaxACohen
